Running is good for your physical and mental health. It can help control your weight, make you have more energy and feel less stressed. If you are new to running, it is important to start slowly and build up over a few weeks.

The Couch to 5K programme is a great way to start, with just a few minutes running and walking at a time until after 9 weeks you may be running for half an hour.

It is important to wear good running shoes and have the right clothes to keep you cool enough or warm enough depending on the time of year. If you don't have these already, talk to Jon Mann-Smith at New Hope who may be able to help.

Getting started on running

This explains why running is good for mental and physical health and how to get started.

It has a video talking about couch to 5K and the mental and physical benefits.

Couch to 5K

This is actually about getting to be able to run for 30 minutes. Your pace will determine whether this is a 5K or not!

You can download a narrated podcast week by week which tells you what to do as you go along. There is also an explanation of what each week's session contains over the 9 weeks.

Running with other people:

Parkrun in Cassiobury Park

Everyone is welcome at the free Parkrun events, every Saturday morning at 9am at Cassiobury Park.

Watford Joggers (running club)

Once you can run for half an hour, or a 5K you may want to join a running club. Watford Joggers meets at West Herts Sports Club, 8 Park Avenue, Watford, Herts, WD18 7HP and welcomes runners of all abilities. You can run with a group who are a similar ability to you, so that no one is left behind. You can contact them here to ask about membership costs and how to come along to try a session.